FDC Legal & Ethical Issues in DNA 3

Question 1

Which standard governs the accreditation of forensic DNA laboratories in the United States and is required for CODIS participation?

Accepted Answer

FBI Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories

Answer

The FBI's Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories set mandatory requirements that laboratories must meet and be audited against for CODIS participation.

Question 2

A forensic DNA analyst is asked by a prosecutor to reinterpret a mixture result in a way that supports the prosecution's theory. The analyst believes the interpretation is unsupported. What should the analyst do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse and document the request, maintaining the scientifically supported interpretation

Answer

Forensic analysts have an ethical obligation to provide impartial, scientifically defensible conclusions and must not alter interpretations to favor either party.

Question 3

Under Brady v. Maryland, what obligation does the prosecution have regarding exculpatory DNA evidence?

Accepted Answer

The prosecution must disclose all exculpatory DNA evidence to the defense

Answer

Brady v. Maryland (1963) requires prosecutors to disclose all material exculpatory evidence to the defense, and DNA evidence that could exonerate a defendant clearly falls within this obligation.

Question 4

Which ethical concept requires that the benefits and burdens of forensic DNA research and databasing be distributed fairly across all population groups?

Accepted Answer

Justice

Answer

The principle of justice demands equitable distribution of research benefits and risks, including concerns that certain racial or socioeconomic groups are disproportionately represented in forensic DNA databases.

Question 5

What does the term 'confirmatory bias' refer to in the context of forensic DNA analysis?

Accepted Answer

The tendency for an analyst to interpret ambiguous data in a way that confirms a pre-existing conclusion

Answer

Confirmatory bias occurs when analysts unconsciously allow knowledge of case facts or expected outcomes to influence their interpretation of ambiguous DNA data.

(FDC) Forensic DNA Certification Practice Test

(FDC) Forensic DNA Certification Practice Test

FDC Legal & Ethical Issues in DNA 3